5 Reasons Why You need a beautiful Antique Fireplace Mantel

Why do you need a beautiful antique fireplace mantel? I guess the question should be why not! An antique mantel is of course perfect for using as a fireplace surround for your existing fireplace or wood stove- but spoiler alert- you don’t need a fireplace or wood stove in order to enjoy a fireplace mantel.

Though some might find it odd to just have an antique mantel without the rest of the look- I am on team mantel anywhere fireplace or not. Did you know that I have 2 regular big old fireplaces in our home & cottage that have old wood mantel surrounds. And I have 6 vintage mantel surrounds that don’t have a firebox to frame. And I love them. Keep reading to see why I think you need one in your home too.

Antique Fireplace Mantel

There are many ways I justify bringing home an antique mantel surround when I find one – after all it is not everyday that you find the perfect size, shape, color, etc. so when you do- you grab it. This mantel surround is a new to me one. I found it on Marketplace (of course) and instantly knew I loved the details and look but I wasn’t quite sure the listed measurements were correct. You see, this one looks just like those old mantels with the attached mirrors that you can find often- but they are usually no more than 4′ wide. This antique mantel was almost 8′ wide and over 8′ tall. It is HUGE. So of course, I measured and then had to go look at it.

I had been on the hunt for the perfect antique fireplace mantel for the barn for over a year. I almost got one- the seller asked if I had a truck to pick it up- I immediately said yes, and can I come pick up now and she messaged about 2 minutes later and said she sold it. Marketplace can be very iffy sometimes.

But this one… well this one worked out. I went to see it and of course absolutely fell in love with all the details and the size was Perfection for the barn. They had purchased it at an auction years earlier- it dates to around 1900 and is heavy solid oak. So, getting it up to the barn was a bit of a task. We had to call in some reinforcements to help unload it from the truck and cart it up the hill through the woods to the barn.

So why did I need a non working antique mantel in the barn? It is simple.

For Decorating

Faux antique fireplace mantels are perfect for decorating- think seasonally with garlands, florals, artwork, etc. Fill their ‘firebox’ with candles, logs stacked up or another painting.

This one in our bedroom has black paper to fill the firebox in. You could use wallpaper or faux brick or something else.

They Are Easy to Add in Small Spaces

Of course, a fireplace mantel that is 8′ long is not necessarily easy to fit into a small space- but you get the idea. A small antique mantel can be tucked in behind a sofa for a unique look, placed on a wall that is lacking architectural details or where another larger piece of furniture like a sideboard may not fit well.

As you can see, the mantel in the barn is not yet full in place. It is leaning as of now- we have to install some brackets to keep it safe but though it is long and tall- it isn’t that deep so it fits here perfectly. I love how it has so much detail and charisma that it brings to this wall.

I didn’t style the mantel yet of course- I just plopped the farmers market flowers on it with some candles for a couple of photos- but you will be seeing the full changes in the barn soon.

Architectural Salvage Charm

Antique fireplace mantels bring architectural details and antique charm wherever you place them.

Did you know that I want to bring one of the marble fireplace mantels into my bathroom? I don’t know if I have the wall space for it without making some other changes but it might have to happen. It is just like adding an antique piece of furniture to a room- it instantly brings that charm to it. You don’t have to remodel or redo your whole space- you can simply tuck some antique architectural salvage into a room and call it good.

The Layers and Stories

Antiques bring layers to a room and stories. Even if you don’t know the history on a piece- you have the story of when you found it and why you loved it, etc. And that keeps those forgotten pieces alive. I love adding layers of history to my decor and imagining all of the things they have seen over the years.

Why Not?

Okay- the biggest reason as to why you need an antique fireplace mantel- Why not? If you would like an antique mantel to decorate and play with and just enjoy all year long- that is good enough reason for me to justify finding your perfect one and brining it home.

Of course, if you don’t want to wait to find a perfect antique one- you can get the look with new as well and simply customize it to be more the look you want. Plus- they often have realistic flames and a heater option as well. You can shop some looks below.

Do you love architectural salvage like this as much as I do?

Stay tuned for more changes up in the barn and how the mantel looks when it is fully in place. For more antique treasures- you can read about 4 things I look for when shopping antiques.

Happy Monday!